Protecting the Rights of Both Smokers and Non-Smokers...
Enclosed Smoking Booths with Air Purification Features
Improving Urban Aesthetics and Cleanliness,
Effective in Preventing Wildfires
Nowon-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) announced that it is expanding the installation of 'smart eco-friendly smoking booths.'
The initiative aims to address the issues of secondhand smoke exposure and illegal cigarette littering, as well as to reduce fire risks. In particular, since more than half of Nowon-gu's total area consists of green spaces, there has been a consistent need for improved smoking environment management due to the heightened risk of large-scale fires from even small sparks.
The eco-friendly smoking booths have been installed mainly in areas with high foot traffic and concentrations of multi-use facilities within Nowon-gu. So far, booths have been set up at six locations: Bulamsan Sports Town, Korea Military Academy, Madeul Sports Town, Suraksan Sports Town, Deungnamu Neighborhood Park, and Hwarangdae Station. The booth at Taereung Ipgu Station is scheduled for completion by the end of May.
The smoking booths are drawing attention as 'safe urban smoking zones' equipped with advanced air purification systems and safety-focused designs. They feature heating and cooling facilities, a negative pressure system that blocks external smoke emissions, triple filters, and an air circulation purification device that purifies and recirculates indoor air without the need for a ventilator. This setup maintains a pleasant indoor environment while minimizing harm to non-smokers.
Additionally, the vacuum ashtrays inside the booths prevent cigarette smoke from escaping and contribute to fire prevention through an automatic incineration function. This fire prevention effect is expected to be especially significant at Suraksan Sports Town and Bulamsan Sports Town booths, which are located near forested areas with abundant fallen leaves.
The district is also pursuing various policies to both protect smokers' rights and encourage smoking cessation. It is expanding designated non-smoking zones in parks and around schools and is running anti-smoking promotional campaigns and smoking cessation clinics.
In particular, the district is operating a 'Smoking Cessation Success Incentive Program' for residents who wish to quit smoking. Residents who maintain smoking cessation for three years and complete related programs can receive incentives worth up to 600,000 won, thereby strengthening their commitment to quit. Through these efforts, the district is working to lower the smoking rate and foster a healthier local community.
As a result of these initiatives, the district received the top national award in the Ministry of Health and Welfare's smoking environment improvement category last year, and in 2025, on the occasion of the 38th World No Tobacco Day, it was recognized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an outstanding institution for creating a smoke-free environment.
Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, "The smoking booths are a multifaceted policy that satisfies both smokers and non-smokers, while also contributing to urban cleanliness and fire prevention. We will continue to promote smoking cessation and environmental policies to create a healthy and safe urban environment."
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